MANILA, (PIA) -- A total of 7,865 index crimes have been reported from January 1 to March 25, which is lower than the 9,375 incidents during the same period in 2022.

According to the Philippine National Police (PNP), the nationwide index crime dropped by more than 16 percent during the period 

Index crimes include murder, homicide, physical injury, rape, robbery, theft, motorcycle theft and vehicle theft.

At the same time, PNP Chief of Police General Rodolfo Azurin heralded the success of the ongoing campaign against illegal drugs, where P1.36 billion worth of drugs were recovered, and cases were filed against 14,481 arrested drug suspects during the aforementioned period.

While 17,418 were arrested in the PNP's intensified pursuit of wanted persons during this period as well.

In the campaign against loose firearms, Azurin said that 1,993 were arrested and 6,726 firearms were confiscated and recovered by the PNP from January 1 to March 24 of this year. (PIA-NCR)